Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Phuket

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $858 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 32% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 36% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 TZS 7,158

$4.48 ฿150

-38.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 TZS 50.6K

$45.59 ฿1,525

-57.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 TZS 19.7K

$8.76 ฿293

-13.36%

Cappuccino

$2.01 TZS 5,234

$2.97 ฿99.3

-32.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 TZS 927

$0.69 ฿22.96

-47.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 624

$0.39 ฿13.07

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,791

$2.53 ฿84.7

-57.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,056

$3.75 ฿125

-48.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,759

$2.15 ฿71.8

-50.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,046

$1.82 ฿60.7

-56.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,844

$2.18 ฿73.1

-50.00%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,145

$2.25 ฿75.2

-12.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.3K

$20.00 ฿669

-53.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.93 TZS 15.4K

$3.63 ฿121

63.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 TZS 11.1K

$13.56 ฿453

-68.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 TZS 6,719

$3.24 ฿109

-20.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,637

$1.64 ฿54.7

-38.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,663

$2.33 ฿78.0

-56.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,720

$2.07 ฿69.3

-49.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,499

$1.55 ฿51.8

-38.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,109

$1.46 ฿48.67

8.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 TZS 2,158

$0.98 ฿32.94

-15.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,050

$0.48 ฿16.13

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,226

$4.35 ฿146

-53.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 TZS 17.7K

$18.57 ฿621

-63.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,500

$1.86 ฿62.1

-48.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,203

$2.65 ฿88.8

-38.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 622

$1.42 ฿47.40

-83.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.21 TZS 44.7K

$11.57 ฿387

48.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 TZS 3,736

$3.17 ฿106

-54.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,029

$1.03 ฿34.51

50.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.31 TZS 34.6K

$13.89 ฿465

-4.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,233

$1.34 ฿44.96

-7.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.8K TZS 43.7M

$27.8K ฿929.6K

-39.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.2K TZS 44.7M

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-48.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.3 TZS 250.4K

$123 ฿4,116

-21.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.72 TZS 27.9K

$13.77 ฿461

-22.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.60 TZS 84.7K

$18.33 ฿613

77.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 248.7K

$60.7 ฿2,030

57.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

$17.16 ฿574

-72.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

$8.87 ฿297

-47.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$256 TZS 664.4K

$688 ฿23.0K

-62.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

$15.8K ฿527.8K

22.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 66.9K

$59.3 ฿1,984

-56.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 TZS 112.0K

$34.69 ฿1,160

24.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.89 TZS 119.3K

$115 ฿3,853

-60.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 TZS 219.5K

$83.8 ฿2,802

0.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 TZS 1.5M

$621 ฿20.8K

-6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 TZS 671.1K

$446 ฿14.9K

-42.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

$2,034 ฿68.0K

-34.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 TZS 1.7M

$1,496 ฿50.0K

-55.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,514 TZS 3.9M

$3,455 ฿115.6K

-56.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,096 TZS 2.8M

$2,531 ฿84.7K

-56.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 TZS 722.6K

$494 ฿16.5K

-43.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

5.33

269.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $581 in Dar es Salaam versus $621 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 78% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $291 – making Dar es Salaam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dar es Salaam vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,287 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dar es Salaam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $256 per month in Dar es Salaam and $688 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 76% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $858, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dar es Salaam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.